21 Years of Wisdom: One Man's Extraordinary Odyssey in Japan

21 Years of Wisdom: One Man's Extraordinary Odyssey in JapanGrowing up in the crime ridden streets of Los Angeles' South Central, Darrell Gartrell could easily have become just another statistic. But a backpacking journey across Europe forever changed his fortunes. Eventually, he landed in Osaka. There, he became the one of the first African Americans in Japan to teach English with a focus on US urban culture. His academy, called Wisdom21, was an instant hit. But doing business in Japan was to come at a heavy

Growing up in the crime-ridden streets of Los Angeles' South Central, Darrell Gartrell could easily have become just another statistic. But a backpacking journey across Europe forever changed his fortunes. Eventually, he landed in Osaka. There, he became the one of the first African-Americans in Japan to teach English with a focus on US urban culture. His academy, called Wisdom21, was an instant hit. But doing business in Japan was to come at a heavy price, and Darrell's unlikely success meant that he attracted, not only the upper echelons of polite society, but of the feared 'yakuza' (Japanese mafia). Darrell shares his experiences in his book -- a penetrating travel memoir for all seasons.